A Closer Walk
"He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart on me," Arther Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952). Born in Nottingham, England, Mr. Pink was an English Bible teacher. Unwilling to attend a liberal theological college, he briefly attended the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He left Moody to accept the pastorship of the Congregational Church in Silverton, Colorado. Pink published the first issue of "Studies in the Scriptures" in 1922. This would occupy most of his time for the rest of his life. "Studies in the Scriptures" have produced many books, some compiled after his death.
"He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart on me." Mr. Pink tells us that our Lord foresaw our stumbles and our falls yet He, Almighty God, fixed His heart on us. How comforting! Even with our shortcomings, flaws, and imperfections our Heavenly Father loves us and is mindful of us.
The Lord told the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...,” Jeremiah 1:4 NASB. Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet to the nations. As part of his ministry he was sent to Jerusalem to preach repentance to the people of Judah so they would stop worshiping their false gods and graven images. Alas, they would not listen. Eventually their beloved city Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians because of their refusal to repent and turn back to God. Many of the Jews were then taken to Babylon as slaves. Even knowing what we will go through, before we go through it, our Heavenly Father is mindful of us.
Here is another quote from A. W. Pink. “I can see nothing else but to attempt to seek grace to bow to the Lord's sovereign pleasure, and say, 'Not my will but Thine be done.'” Knowing that our God in heaven knows our every flaw, our every stumble, Mr. Pink arrives at the conclusion that when all is said and done, we have nothing left but to accept God's sovereignty. And to say, “Not my will but Thine be done.” The Lord Jesus Christ used the same phrase in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was arrested and taken away. Ultimately, after we have done our part, we must trust God for the rest.
But that is so hard. Especially during the difficult times, trusting God may seem to be nearly impossible. During such times the best we can do may be simply to get out of bed every day and put one foot in front of the other. Then the next day to repeat that process. A pastor once pointed out that one of the most important phrases in all the Bible are the words, “And it came to pass.” Whatever we are going through, or will go through in the future, will pass. Why? Because it came to pass.
Every believer, indeed every person, goes through trials, tribulations, and temptations. So it may be encouraging for us if we remember what God told Joshua, Moses' successor. “...Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:5, 6 and 9 NASB.
“ 'Great is Thy faithfulness,' O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. 'Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!' Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. 'Great is Thy faithfulness,' Lord unto me!” From “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” by Thomas Obediah Chisholm and William Marion Runyan, 1923.